Stapling machine



June 26, 1928.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 r H L m in m m. w WJ .r $6 m 3:, w M

June 26, 1928.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June- 26, 1928.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. -2, 1926 NNN June 26, 1928.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HOWARD G. ALLEN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MORRISON STITCHER CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ST'AIPLING MACHINE.

Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial No. 78,740.

This invention relates to a stapling machine or wire stitcher and more particularly to a machine for staying or connectin the walls of a box at the corners thereo by means of wire stitches or staples.

It is one of the objects of this invention to produce a stapling machine of this character designed primarily as a corner stayerfor boxes which will take ordinary flat or round wire and convert the successive sections of the same into U-form, then bends the same so that the legs of the staple converge downwardly and the cross bar of'the same is arched upwardly, then forces the legs through the walls of a box adjacent to a corner thereof, and then presses the cross bar of the staple in the form of an angle against the outer corner of the box and presses the legs against the inner side of the walls and draws the staple and the walls firmly together to produce a strong and durable box corner. A further object of this invention is to accomplish this result by means which are comparatively simple in construction, reliable in operation, and capable of working efiiciently for a long time'without wearing unduly nor requiring frequent replacement, or repairing.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section of a stapling machine emodying my improvements, the sectional part being taken on line 1-1, Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on line 22, Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33, Fig. 10.

Figure 4 is avert'ical cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 44, Figure 1, and showing the parts in the same position.

Figure 5 is a side view of the parts in same position as Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 6-6, Figure 4, being the lower part only of the mechanism.

Figure 7 is a front view of the working parts similar to Figure 4 but slightly later in the cycle of machine operation.

Figure 8 is a front View similar to Fig ures 4 and 7 but showing the parts in still another position and still later in the cycle of operations.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevation,

similar to Figure 8, but later in the cycle of operations and showing the clinching mechanism in section.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side view partly insection, similar to Figure 9, taken on line 10-10, Fig. 9. Y

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section similar to Figure 9 but showin' the completion of the staple driving and 0 inch- 1ng operation.

Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 12--12, Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a transverse section taken on 1in'e 1313, Figure 1 looking forwardly.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective. v1ew of the lower or'stapling forming, uiding and driving portion of the head. 0 the machine.

Figures 15 to 19 are perspective views showing the different forms the piece of wire of each staple assumes during the operation of forming and applying the same to a box corner.

Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the manner of' applying the staple to a box in' which the walls overlap each other at the corner between: the same.

Figure 21 is'a cross section of the corner of a box showing the manner of ap lying a staple thereto when the walls thereof ly abut at the corner.

Figure 22 is a cross section on line 22-22, Figure 1.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head of the stapling machine showing the same modified-for use in making staples of round wire.

Figure 24 is a perspective view of a ribbon wire staple driver.

Figure 25 is a perspective view of the staple forming block.

Figure 26 is a horizontal section taken on line 2626, Figure 12.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this machine comprises means for feeding the wire from which the staples are produced, means for cutting the wire successively into lengths meresuitable for forming staples, means for preliminarily forming the'staples of U-form, and supplemental means for additionally forming the staples and guiding and drivin the same through the corners of boxes an at taching the same thereto. The wire feeding and cutting and the preliminary forming mechanism may be variously constructed and is not a part of the present invention, the novelty of the latter being confined to the supplemental means for additionally forming the staples, guiding the same and appling' them to the box corners as will hereinafter more fully appear.

That portion of the main frame or body of the machine shown in the drawings comprises a rear standard or upri ht 30, a lower arm 31 projecting forwardly rom the lower part of the standard and an upper arm 32 projecting forwardly from the upper part of the same. Upon the front part of the lower frame arm is arran ed the means for supporting the boxes 33 o rectangular form which are intended to be stapled at the corners and on this end of this arm is also arranged the mechanism for clinching the staplea on the corners of the boxes. On the front end of the upper frame arm is arranged the supporting head 34 upon which is mounted the mechanism for feeding the staple wire, the cutter for severing the same into lengths, the means for effecting the preliminary and supplemental formation of the staples, and the means for guiding and driving the same through the box corners for staying the same. The/upper side 35 of the lower frame arm is of upwardly projecting V-shape form to form a saddle of this shape upon which the corner of the box is supported while the walls thereof are being stapled or stitched together at the upper corner. This lower frame arm is preferably so mounted on the standard that the front end of the same is capable of being raised and lowered for adapting the machine for stitching boxes which vary in thickness. Asshown in Figure 1 of the drawings this is accomplished by connecting the rear end of the lower frame arm with the standard by a horizontal transverse pivot pin 36 and a horizontal longitudinal adjusting screw 37 arranged in a lug 38 depending from the rear part of the lowerframe arm and en gaging the adjacent part of the standard so that by turning this screw in one direction or the other the front end of the lower frame v arm will be moved vertically toward and in Letters Patent of the United States No.

644,754 granted March 6, 1900 to M. V. Allen to which reference ma be made for a complete description of his wire feed mechanism.

The cutter mechanism maybe of various forms but generally the same may also be similar to that shown and described in the above mentioned Letters Patent, the same consisting essentially of a fixed tubular blade 48 which is mounted on a block 49 on the lower part of the front side of the supporting head and receiving the wire, and a movable blade 50 adapted to cooperate with the fixed blade for severin the wireat suitable intervals and actuate in any approved manner.

As the wire advances from the cutter mechanism the same passes through a rearwardly opening mouth or slot 51 in the lower arm of an anvil lever 56 and over an anvil 53 on this lever which forms the lower side of this slot. This anvil lever is pivoted by a horizontal transverse pin 54 to the block 49. After the wire has been advanced a length through the feed slot of the anvil lever and before the same is cut 011' from the supply wire the same is gripped by clamping the same between the anvil and an upper gripper jaw or finger 57 engaging the top of the wire, as shown in Figure 6. This gripper jaw projects rearwardly from the lower part of an upright gripper rod 58 which slides in a guideway on the anvil lever and is yieldingly held in its depressed or closed position by a spring 59 arranged in a pocket 60 in the anvil lever and en aging its upper end with a pin in the top 0 this pocket and its lower end with a in 61 on the gripper rod. The raising of the gripper rod is effected by a gripper lever or crank 62 of elbow form which is pivoted on the supporting block 49 and has a horizontal, arm pivotally connected with the gpper part of said gripper rod, as shown in ig. 1, and an upri ht arm which is actuated by motion derived rom a vertically movable forming slide or bar 63 guided on the supporting head of the frame, as shown in Fig. 7. For this purpose this forming slide is provided on its front side with a cam face having an upper vertical portion 64 and a lower inclined portion 65 which are adapted to engage with a roller 66 on the upright arm of the gripper lever so as to open and close the wire gripper. The forming. slide is raised and lowered by means of a roller 67 on the rear side of the same engaging with a groove cam 68 on the front side of a driving disk 69 secured to the front end of the drlving shaft 39.

On its front side this forming slide is provided with an upright guideway 70- in which a driving bar 71 slides vertically and on opposite sides of the lower part-of this guideway the forming slide is provided with two upright forming jaws 72, 72, the opposing faces of which are parallel and provided with upright grooves 73. The driving bar is reciprocated vertically by means of a link 74 pivotally connected at one end bya pin 75 with the upper end ofthe driving bar and pivotally connected at its other end with a crank pin or wrist 76 on the front side of the driving disk 69, as-shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8.

On the lower part of the front side of the driving bar is mounted a driver 77 which is provided on its opposite vertical edges with ribs 78 engaging with the grooves 73 in the forming jaws and at its lower end this driver is provided with two square bearing faces 131 and a V-shaped bearing face 79 which are adapted to engage with the cross bar 80. of the staple and bend the same into V-form while driving its legs 81 through the work piece and pressing this crossbar to the angular corner of the box which is being stayed while supported on the V-shaped saddle of the machine. In Figure 24 is shown a rearward view of the driver. It should be noted that the V'-shaped bearing faces do not extend to intersechthe ribs 78. At each side of the lower end of the driver are two flat faces 131 square with the ribs and into which the V-shaped faces merge. The width from front to back of these faces 131 is slightly less than the width from front to back of ribs 78. In front of these faces are downwardly projecting horns 132 whose rearward faces incline forwardly slightly in a downward direction.

Mounted on the lower end of the forming slide and movable horizontally and lengthwise into and out of the path of the driver is a staple supporting shoe 83. This shoe slides at its opposite longitudinal edges in guideways 84 on the lower end of the forming bar and the underside of this shoe together with the lower end of the forming bar are constructed to form a V-shaped recess 85 whereby the same are adapted to fit over and engage with the V-shaped corner of a box which is supported while being stapled on the correspondingly shaped saddle of the lower arm of the mainframe. On opposite sides of its front end this shoe is provided with two horns 86 which are adapted in the forward position of the shoe to project underneath the forming jaws and on their upper sides these horns are provided with concave curved surfaces 87 which in the forwardly projected position of the shoeare arranged below the grooves 73 of the former jaws. This shoe is retracted rearwardly from underneath the driver during the descent of the same with the driving bar by means of a cam 88 mounted on the lower rear part of the driving bar and engaging with a cam face 89 on the upper front central part of the shoe. The latter is yieldingly held in its foremost position by spring pressure preferably derived by means shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 10. This consists of a bracket 120 rigidly attached to the front part of the body 32 carrying a plunger 91 around which is a spring 90. This spring tends to force the plunger 91 forwardly until it is stopped by pin 123 in its rearward end. The guideways 84 for turning the block 83 are in the lower end of the side pieces 126 rigidly attached to the lower end' of former slide 63 and spaced apart by the block 125. In the upper end of't-he space block 125 is a pin124 over which loosely sets a bar 121 having fixed to it a cam block 122. This bar and attached cam are thus loosely hinged over pin 124 so that the lower end may always be in contact with the rearward end of the turning block 83. As the former slide 63 is drawn up by rotation of the cam 69 the condition shown in Figure 5 is presented, that is, the plunger end 91 is below the cam block 122 and so the turning block is free to be moved easily back to its rearmost position. The pressure of the spring 133 "is transmitted to the anvil lever 56 by a pin 150 sliding in the lower part of'the block 49, as shown in Fig. 1. Further rotation of the cam 69 brings the former slide 63 downward and carries the cam 122 under the forward end of the plunger 91 and the condition shown in Figure 10 is arrived at. Here the cam 88 on the lower rearward end of the drive bar has forced the block 83 rearwardly against the tension of the spring- 90. It will be seen that the purpose of this scheme for mounting the spring is to put a yielding pressure against the back of the turning block 83, when the former slide 63 is in its lower position only. The forward movement of the turning block 83 under the action springs 90 is limited by engagement of shoulders on the front end of this turning block with the lower part of the rear side of the forming jaws. On the lower right-hand side of the anvil lever 56 is an adjustable eccentric stud 52 mounted to co-operate with the cam block 127 on the right former 72 so as to swing the anvil lever 56 outward whenever the former slide 63 is downward. It is shown in this position in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. This is the position the anvil lever assumes when taking wire from the feeding mechanism. As the former slide 63 moves upward an eccentric stud 52 moves off from the cam block 127 the anvil bar 56 would be forced rearward by the pressure of the spring 133 (see Figure 1) were it not that the cam 129 mounted on the plate 82 on the drive bar 71, co-operates with cam face 130 on rearward side of the anvil bar. This cam bar 82 maintains the anvil bar 56 in its outward or frontward position until such time as the lower end of the bar'82 passes u wardoff of cam 130 on the anvil bar. e pur ose of this auxiliary cam control of anvil a1 56 is to keep its lower end 53 from contact with the part 93 which lies directly back of the driver 77 and under these conditions projects below it.

After the staple blank is severed from the supply wire, the latter is carried rearwardly. so that its central part is underneath the driver and the ends thereof underneath the former jaws, as in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The latter then descend and bend the ends of the wire staple blank downwardly alon opposite sides of the anvil in the form of legs at which time these legs are received by the grooves 73 in the former jaws, as shown in Figure 7. The forming slide descends until the clamping faces 85 at its lower end rest on the box corner which is to be stapled and then the driving bar descends and first causes the U-shaped staple to be carried downwardly between the forming jaws and then continued in their downward movement during which the lower ends of the staple legs are engaged with the curved surfaces 87 of the shoe horns whereby the staple legs are turned toward each other and caused to converge downwardly and the cross bar of the same is caused to arch upwardly, as shown in Figure 9. During the last part of this downward movement f the driver the same forces the legs of'thc staple downwardly through the walls of the box and presses the cross pieces against the outer side of this corner so that the same conforms to the angular shape of the box corner, as shown in Figure 11. During this final downward movement of the driver the turning block is moved rearwardly so that its horns clear the path of the driver which retracting movement of the shoe is effected by engagement of the cam 88 on the driving bar with the cam face 89 on the shoe, as shown in Figures 10 and 12. The driver does not force the shoe backwardly thereby relieving the driver from undue wear.

As the shoe moves rearwardly the drag ging effect of its horns on the lower ends of the staple legs might possibly dislocate them and interfere with the operation of properly driving the same through the box corner.

To avoid th s a guard or shield 93 is provided which is mounted on the driving'bar so as to be capable 'of movin vertically thereon between the rear side 0 the driver and the front side of the shoe retracting cam 88. A guideway 94 is provided for this purpose on the lower part of the front side of the driving bar which guideway receives said shield. A spacing late 95 is arranged between the rear side 0 the driver and the driving bar which plate is received by a vertical slot 96 in the shield, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 6 and 12, thereby servin to limit the vertical movement of the shiel on the driving bar and reventing displacement of the same. The s ield is yieldingly held in its downwardly projected position beyond the driver by means of a spring 97 arranged in a pocket 98 in the driving bar and engaging its lower end against said shield and its upper end against a pin 99 at the top of said pocket, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 12. The lower end of the shield is provided with a V-shaped notch 29.whereby the same is adapted to fit the angular corner which is being stapled. During the first part of the descent of the driving bar the shield projects below the driver until the shield engages with the box corner during which time the driver is moving the U- shaped staple downwardly between the forming jaws. After the shield engages the box the driver continues its downward movement independently of the shield and during this time the staple is carried downwardly and its legs are deflected toward each other by engaging with the curved faces of the horns. withdrawn rearwardly by the cam 88 but the le s of the staple are prevented from following these horns but instead are held in position by the shield and directed downwardly through the box while under the pressure of the driver from the top.

After the legs of the staple have been thus forced obliquely downwardly through the box corner and the cross bar of the same has been pressed into angular form against the outer side of the box corner so as to conform therewith the lower ends of the staple legs are clinched toward each other and against the underside of the box corner so as to complete the staying of the box corner. Various clinching mechanisms may be employed for this purpose that, for example, which is shown in the drawings being constructed as follows:

The numeral 100, Figure 1, represents a clincher box mounted on the front end of the lower arm of the main frame vertically in line with the driver and forming jaws. On its inner side this clincher box is provided with a vertical guideway 101 in which a clincher 102 slides vertically. At its upper end this clincher is rovided with a V- shaped face 103 whic upon raising the At this time the latter are also a vertically movable shifting at its upper and lower en Figure 25.

clincher, is adapted to engage with the staple legs and bend them toward each other and press the same against the inner angular side of the box corner, and thereby complete the fastening together of the corner of the box, as shown in' Figure 11. Although Various means maybe employed for raising and lowering the clincher it has been found satisfactory in practice to employ a vertically swinging operating lever 104 arranged lengthwise underneath the lower work supporting arm of the main frame and having its front arm engaging with an opening105 in the clincher, a pivot or stud 106 which is mounted on the frame arm 31 and upon which the operating lever turns, a spring 107 interposed between the rear arm of the operating lever and said frame arm 31 and serving to turn this lever in the direction for lowering the clincher in the clincher box, bar 108 guided s of the frame standard and connected with therear arm of the operating lever, and a cam 109 arranged on the driving shaft and engaging with a roller 110 on the shifting bar for depressing the same and elevating the clincher into working position. The pivot 106 is preferably made adjustable so as to enable the movement of the clincher to be adapted to the inner side of the box corner and staple. For this purpose the pivot is formed eccentrioally on a trunnlon 111 which is journaled in a bearing 112 onone side of the frame arm 31 and is adapted to be turned by a screw driver applied to a nick 113 in the outer end of thls trunnion, and a clamping screw 114 arranged in the opposite side of the frame arm 31 and engaging the pivot or stud 106, as shown in B turning the trunnion the pivot 106 will be raised or lowered and the effect of this 0 erating lever on the clincher changed accordingly.

In Figures 1 to 22 is shown a machine which is designed for use in operating on flat or ribbon wire but obviously the machine can be adapted for use on round wire as well, as shown in Figure 23. In these figures the opposing inner sides of the forming jaws 115 are provided with rounded grooves 116 and the lower end of the driver 117 is provided with a seat which is adapted to receive a blank 119 of round wire preparatory to bending the same into the form of a staple and applying the same to the work piece.

The operation of the machine briefly is as followsz A length of wire is, first fed into the slot 51 in the lower end of the anvil lever by the wire feeding mechanism. During the period of feeding the wire the anvil 53 occupies the position shown in Figure 10. After the wire has been fed forwardly an extent sufliblank are directly cient to form a cross bar equal to the width of the anvil and legs of the requisite length projecting equal distances from opposite sides of the anvil, then the staple blank is out from the supply wire. Shortly before the wire is cut off but after its forward feeding motion has stopped in the forward rotation of cam 68, the forming slide is raised and the roller 66 of the gripper lever 62 is caused to drop off the vertical cam surface 64 and move toward the left side of the forming slide, as shown in Figure 4. This allows a counterclockwise rotation of the grip er lever 62 and so permits the gripper nger to be pressed rmly down on the wire by its spring. Thus, the wire when cut oil will be. firmly secured in the slot in the lower end of the anvil lever and centrally located therein.

] The continued clockwise motion of the cam 68 causes the driving bar to rise together with the forming slide until the same reach the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. During the last part of the upward movement of the driving bar the cam bar 129 on the front side of the same is .moved upwardly under the cam-130 on the rearward side of the anvil lever. This allows the anvil lever under influence of spring 133 to move the wire blank on its lowerarm under the lower end of the forming bar so that the opposite ends of the wire in the path of the grooves or channels in t e forming jaws, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Further rotation of the cam 68 moves the forming bar or slide past the wire blank slot in the lower end of the anvil lever, thereby bending over the wire held thereby into the form of an inverted U with square corners, as shown in Figure 7. Shortly after the wire'has been bent the cam face 65 of the forming slide engages with the roller 66 on the gripper lever causing the gripper jaw to be raised from the wire blank. Further motion of the [cam 68 causes the former slide to descend and bring the cam 127 in contact with the stud 52 on side of anvilbar 56. Further downward motion of the driver brings it in contact with the top of the staple as it lays in the grooves in the former jaws, as shown in Figure 8. The wire now bent into the form of a U-sha'pe is driven downward by the fiat faces 131 on the driver at the extremities of its central V-shaped recess, as shown in Figure 8. Continued downward motion of the staple and driver brings them into the position shown in Figure 9, which represents the staple driven out of channels in the forming jaws and the legs of the same are driven against the turning surfaces 87 so that the staple is bent to the form shown in this figure and in which the legs converge downwardly and the cross bar is arched upwardly while the legs are partway through the box. It is to be noted that at this time the projecting horns 132 on the driver are arran ed over the corners of the staple and that t eir inwardl beveled faces serve to wedge it between t ese horns and the stri per 93. This serves to hold the staple in t e driving mechanism.

As the driver continues its descent the shoe is pushed back to avoid pressure from the lower rear edge of the driver which is effected by the cam 88 on the driving bar engaging the cam 89 on the shoe or turning block. As the shoe moves back it would draw the staple back with it and away from in under the driver were it not for the shield. This shield or stripper comes in contact with the curved surfaces 87 of the horns before the shoe starts its motion rearward. This is possible because the shield is yieldingly held so that its front end precedes the driver. This condition is shown in Figures 1, 4,6, 7, 8 9 and 10. Since the shield lies directly back of the staple and in contact with it, the staple is not displaced laterally by the rearward motion of the supporting shoe. Durin the last part of the downward motion 0 the driver the legs of the staple are forced through the walls of the box forming the sides of the corner and the cross bar of the staple is bent into V-form against the outside of the corner. Thereafter the clincher is raised and the legs are bent upwardly a ainst the inner side of the box be driving bar and forming slide and all attached parts are now raised and the clincher is de ressed and the cycle of operations repeate as often as necessary.

The several forms which the wire assumes during the operation of converting the same into .astaple and zipplying it to a box corner are illustrated in igures 15 to 19. As there shown, Figure 15 represents the straight blank of wire after it is cut from the supply wire, Figure 16 shows the blank bent into the form of a U-staple, Figure 17 shows the legs of the staple bent toward each other and the cross bar of the same arched u wardly preparatory to being applied to a ox corner, Figure 18 shows the position of the legs and the form of the cross bar when the staple is applied to a box corner, and Fi re 19 shows the shape of the staple whenc inched on a box corner. The corners of "boxes may be connected by staples in the manner described when one wall is provided with a flap 28 which is overlapped at the corner by the other wall of the box, as shown in Figure 20 or the two walls of the box may abut against each other at the corner, as shown in Figure 21. In the former case one leg of the staple passes through one ply of ma tcrial and the other through two plies, while in the latter construction both leg? pass through single plies of material. t will now be apparent that in this stapling machine the staple is first made of the usual U-shape and then its legs are bent inwardly or toward each other by means of bending dies or surfaces so'that the legs enter the stock at right angles thereto and are completely supported and guided by these surfaces until the legs have fully entered the stock which is very important in staying the corners of boxes.

Owing to the fact that the supporting shoe is driven back by a separate cam on thedriving bar large contact surfaces can be rovided which make. for greater durability and also relieves the driver from the wear of this work thus ensuring long life for the same. The supporting shoe, driver and shield are vital parts of the machine but the same can be produced at low cost, and will stand much abuse without getting out of order.

It is to be noted that in addition to acting as a die for bending the le s of the staple, the V-shaped underside oi the same also serves as a jaw to inch or clamp the work piece or stock on t e saddle and thus hold the same reliably in place during the subsequent operation of applying the staying staples to the corners thereof. Obviously this machine can operate on wires of various cross sections, for example, fiat, round or s uare, by merely changing those parts wiich cooperate with the wire to suit'the shape of the same.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar providedwith two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and suporting the same in the path of said forming aws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the-same through a work piece and a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be enga ed by the legs of the sta le for bending t e same inwardly toward each other.

2. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a sta le blank to and supporting the same in tlie path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same throu h a work piece, a supporting shoe mova lev horizontally into and out of the iii path of said driver and havin bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of Said driver, and means for yieldingly holding the shoe in the path of said driver.

3. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardl along opposite sides 5 of said anvil and ben ing said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a Work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of said driver, and spring supported means for yieldingly holding the shoe in the path of said driver.

4. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with'two forming jaws, an anvil for moving astaple blank to and supporting the same inthe path of said form'- ing jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, and a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by, the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of said driver, and a spring pressed lever which yieldingly supports said shoe while the latter is in the position for bending the legs of the staple toward each other.

5. A staplingmachine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said form ing jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a crossbar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver haw ing cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the-path of said driver. and a spring pressed lever which yieldingly supports said shoe while the latter is in the position for bending the legs of the staple toward each other and which does not yieldingly support the same while the legs of the staple are previously bent dowi'iward by the formers.

6. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and sup porting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof. a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and havin bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of-said driver and means for yieldingly holding the shoe in the path of said driver, said means including a spring mounted on a stationary part of the machine.

7. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of said driver, and means for yieldingly holding the shoe in the path of said driver.'the forward move ment of said shoe bein limited by engagement with the rear side of said forming jaws.

8. A stapling machine comprising a form-- ing bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said form- 1ng jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver formoving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and havin bending surfaces adapted to be en aged by the legs of the staple for bendin t e same inwardl toward each other, sai shoe and driver aving cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the ath of said driver, means for yieldingly hol ing the shoe in the path of said driver comprising a sprin pressed lever engaging with the rear en of said shoe, and a shoe support on which said shoe is guided and attached to said forming jaws.

9. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bendin said blank so as to form a cross bar on t e anvil and legs on oppositesides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, a supporting shoe movable horizontally into and out of the path of said driver and having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple for bending the same inwardly toward each other, said shoe and driver having cooperating cam surfaces for moving the shoe out of the path of said driver, means for yieldingly holding the shoe in the path of said driver comprising a spring pressed lever engaging with the rear end of said shoe, a shoe support on which said shoe is guided and attached to said forming jaws, and clinching mechanism having a support, said shoe support and clinching mechanism support being shaped to clamp the work being stitched between them.

10. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bending said lank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with cave curved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver.

11. A. stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil-for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided withconcave curved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver, the underside of said shoe being provided with a V-shaped recess.

' 12. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for movin a staple blank to and supporting the same 1n the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bending said lilank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardl between said forming jaws and forcing t e legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having two horns adapted to project.

forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with concave curved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardl by the driver, the lower end of said driver aving a V-shaped notch.

13. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontal movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with concave curved surfaces which are en aged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver, the lower end forming bar provided with two forming of said driver having a V-shaped notch and flat horizontal surfaces on opposite edges of said notch, and horns arranged on the lower end of said driver in front of said horizontal surfaces.

14. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staples downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with concave curved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver, the lower end of said 'driver having a V-shaped notch and flat horizontal surfaces on opposite edges of said notch, horns arranged on the lower end of said driver in front of said horizontal surfaces and means for holding the wire staple against said horizontal surfaces and in said notch.

15. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a'driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontal movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with concavecurved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver, the lower end of said driver having a V-shaped notch and flat horizontal surfaces on opposite edges of said notch, and horns arranged on the lower end of said driver in front of said horizontal surfaces, means for holdin the wire staple against said horizontal sur aces and in said notch and a shield or stripper arranged in rear of said driver.

16. A stapling machine comprising a jaws, an anvil for movin a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving sald forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on o posite sides thereof, a driver for moving tl ie staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple towardeach other comprislng a horizontally movable shoe having two horns adapted to project forwardly across the path of the staple legs and having their upper sides provided with concave curved surfaces which are engaged by the legs of the staple as the latter is pushed downwardly by the driver, the lower end of said driver having a notch and the underside of said shoe having a recess, said notch and recess being of V-shape.

17. A stapling machine comprising a.

forming bar provided with two formin jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said formin jaws and forcing the legs of the same throu a work piece, bending means for bending t e legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having bending surfacesadapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple, and a shield adapted to engage the rear side of the staple and to hold the latter in place while the shoe is being disengaged therefrom.

18. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, meansfor moving said forming jaws downwardly along opposite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the, legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple,a shield adapted to engage the rear side of the staple and to hold the latter in place while the shoe is being disengaged therefrom and means for mounting said shield on said driving bar.

19. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bending said lank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the le s of the same through a work piece, ben mg means for bending the legs of the'staple' toward each other com-prising a horizontally movable shoe having bending surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple, a shield adapted to engage the rear side of the staple and to hold the latter in place while the shoe is being disengaged therefrom and means for mounting said shield on said drivin bar com rising a spacing plate which is arrange between said driver and driving bar, said shield being provided with a vertical slot which receives said spacing plate.

20. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same 1n the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws, downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bending said lank so as to form a cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving the staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprisin a horizontally movable shoe having ben ing surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple, a shield adapted to engage the rear side of the staple and to hold the latter in place while the shoe is being disengaged therefrom, means for mounting said shield on said driving bar and a spring for yieldingly holding said shield in a depressed position of said driving bar.

21. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, an anvil for movin a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bendin said blank so as to form a cross bar on t e anvil and legs on op osite sides thereof, a driver for moving t e staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprising a horizontally movable shoe having bendin surfaces adapted to be engaged by the egs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple, a shield adapted to engage the rear side 'of the staple and to hold the latter in place whilethe shoe is being disen aged therefrom, means for mounting said s ield on said driving bar comprising a spacing plate which is arranged between said driver and driving bar, said shield bein provided with a vertical slot which recelves said spacing plate, and a spring mounted on said drivin bar and pressing downwardly against sai shield.

22. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two form-ing jaws, an anvil for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same 1n the path of said forming jaws, means for moving said forming jaws downwardly along op osite sides of said anvil and bending said blank so as to form a. cross bar on the anvil and legs on opposite sides thereof, a driver for moving t e staple downwardly between said forming jaws and forcing the legs of the same through a work piece, bending means for bending the legs of the staple toward each other comprisin a horizontally movable shoe having ben ing surfaces adapted to be engaged by the legs of the staple, means for retracting the shoe out of the path of the staple, and a shield adapted to engage the rear side of the staple and to hold the latter in place while the shoe is being disengaged therefrom and provided in its lower edge with a V-shaped notch.

23. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, a driver movable vertically between said'jaws, means for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws comprising an anvil lever having an anvil upon which the blank is ada ted to be supported, a gri per rod gui ed on the rear part of said ever and provided at its lower end with a grip er finger adapted to engage with the lan resting on said anvil and a slidin staple supporting shoe yieldingly mounted on the lower end of the forming bar.

24. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, a driver movable vertically between said jaws, and means for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws comprising an anvil lever having an anvil upon which the blank is adapted to be supported, a ripper rod guided on the rear part of sai lever and provided at its lower end with a gri per finger adapted to enga e with the blank resting on said anvil, an means for actuating said grip er rod comprisin a spring mountedon t e anvil lever an operating on the grip er rod to de ress the same, an elbow lever having a fixe fulcrum which is III arranged at right angles to the fulcrum of turning the same in a direction for lifting the gripper rod during the descent of the forming bar, and a sta le forming shoe movable horizontally an lengthwise into and out ofthe path of the driver.

25. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, a driver movable vertically between said jaws, and means for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws comprising an anvil leverhaving an anvil upon which the blank is adapted to be supported a gripper rod uided on the rear part of said lever and provlded at its lower end with a gripper finger adapted to engage with the blank restin on said anvil, said anvil lever being provided on its side with an adjustable projection, and a cam block which is mounted on one of said forming jaws and which isadapted to be en aged by said projection for retracting sai lever, and s ring means for holding the lever yieldin y from the time the same is in the staple ormin position to the time it is in the wire f eeding position.

26. A stapling machine comprising a forming bar provided with two forming jaws, a driver movable vertically between said jaws, and means for moving a staple blank to and supporting the same in the path of said forming jaws comprising an anvil lever having an anvil upon which the blank is adapted to be supported, a ri per rod guided on the rear part of sai ever and provided at its lower end with a gri per finger adapted to engage with the blank restin on said anvil, said anvil lever being provi ed on its side with an adjustable proection, and a cam block which is mounted on one of said formin 'aws and which is adapted to be en age y said projection for retracting sai lever, and s ring means for holding the lever yieldin y from the time the same is in the staple orming position tothe time it is in the wire feeding position and a shield arranged below the driver at the lower end of said driver bar, said anvil bar being provided on its rear side with a cam surface cooperating with said cam block for holdin the anvil bar in its forward position whi e wire is being fed to it and said driver bar is moved upward and prevented from coming incontact with said shield.

HOWARD G. ALLEN. 

